MANILA — Philippine authorities are set to seize over P40 billion worth of counterfeit goods in 2024, marking a record high as the government intensifies operations, especially with the holiday season approaching. This announcement comes from the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR).
As of September 16, authorities have already confiscated more than P35 billion in fake products, surpassing the total for all of 2023, which was nearly P27 billion. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) played a significant role in these seizures.
Heightened Monitoring for Holiday Season
With the expected surge in counterfeit goods this holiday season, the NCIPR—comprising agencies like the BOC, National Bureau of Investigation, and Philippine National Police—is committed to enhancing market monitoring and conducting thorough inspections. Paul Pacunayen, Chief of the BOC Intellectual Property Rights Division, stated that counterfeiters are using increasingly sophisticated methods, particularly through online platforms. The government aims to adopt advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain to bolster its monitoring and detection capabilities.
Types of Counterfeit Goods Seized
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reports that 60% of the seized counterfeit goods are types of apparel, including shoes, bags, and clothing. Beauty products account for 36.1%, while gadgets make up 4.6%. Cigarettes represent 0.9%, and other goods comprise 7.4%.
Rowel Barba, Director General of IPOPHL, urged Filipinos to support local products, especially during Christmas. He emphasized that purchasing counterfeit goods not only threatens legitimate businesses but also poses safety and health risks to consumers. “We ask you to choose local products as gifts. Buying fake products harms our businesses and reduces government revenue for health and infrastructure,” Barba stated.
Legal Action Against Counterfeiters
The Department of Justice (DOJ) encourages brand owners to pursue legal action against those involved in intellectual property rights violations. DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres stressed that while market monitoring is essential, effective enforcement requires cooperation from brand owners. “If brand owners don’t pursue criminal actions, this issue becomes a vicious cycle,” he explained.
FATF Grey List Update
The DOJ also expressed optimism about the Philippines potentially being removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list by October, due to ongoing efforts to address issues linked to intellectual property violations and money laundering.
Greenhills Shopping Center Initiative
The IPOPHL is collaborating with the management of Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City to eliminate counterfeit and pirated items by 2027. This mall is the only Philippine entry on the U.S. piracy and counterfeit watch list. Barba noted that efforts are underway to transform Greenhills into a high-end shopping destination while also addressing counterfeiting issues in other areas like Baclaran, Cartimar, and Binondo.
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